'Precious Lives Have Been Lost': Madras High Court Calls For Law To Regulate Online Gambling

The Bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi was hearing a Writ Petition which was filed seeking issuance of a Writ of Mandamus to direct the official respondents to take appropriate action to ban Online Rummy hosted by the seventh respondent and others.

The Court went on to take judicial notice of the media reports on the number of persons died due to Online Gambling.

The Court said,

"Several youths, involved in Online Gambling, lost money and were unable to pay the debts which have been raised for Online Gambling and on account of that have also taken extreme step of committing suicide. It is reported Rs.25,000 Crores is involved in Online Gambling and wide publicity is being given to this killer gambling roping in celebrities which is one of the reasons for the popularity of the games."

Considering the seriousness of the issue involved in the writ petition, the Court suo motu impleaded "the Chief Executive Office (TORF), the Online Rummy Federation of India" as the eighth respondent.

The Court further remarked,

"This Court hopes that appropriate, adequate and immediate measures including bringing legislation to prohibit or regulate Online Gambling would be taken by the Government before the next hearing in order to ensure that no precious life hereinafter will be lost."

The Order in the Case of 'D. Siluvai Venance v. State' (Madras HC)

It may be noted that on 24^th July, 2020, Justice B. Pugalendhi, while disposing of Crl.O.P. (MD) No.6568 of 2020 [D. Siluvai Venance v. State], went into detail as to how Online Gambling, in the name of online games, is causing loss of lives and insisted on the necessity to regulate the programmes on par with the Telangana State Government, wherein Online Gambling has been banned.

It may be noted that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in the above-stated matter (D. Siluvai Venance v. State) had stressed upon the urgent need to address and regulate "online games" such as rummy, bridge, nap, poker, etc. that are luring unemployed youth to bet their money.

"Not only in the State of Tamil Nadu, but also in the entire Country, such online games…are mushrooming and there are so many advertisements appearing in almost all the social media and websites. It appears these advertisements are mostly targeting the unemployed youth, inducing them to play such games, on the pretext of earning money comfortably from their home," the bench comprised of Justice B.Pugalendhi had observed.

On being informed that there was no rule to regulate and license online skill games at present, the bench had said,

Similarly, an issue was raised before the Gujarat High Court and the First Bench of Gujarat High Court in R/Writ Petition (PIL) No.146 of 2020, by order dated 29.09.2020, had directed the State of Gujarat to deal with the Online Games involving gambling appropriately.

The Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice JB Pardiwala had directed the State Government to consider a PIL, seeking regulation of online gambling, as a representation, and do the needful in the "larger public interest".

Notably, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court on Tuesday (03^rd November) issued notices to Indian Cricket Team Captain Virat Kohli and BCCI Chief and former Indian Cricket Team captain Sourav Ganguly, for their involvement in online sports app advertisements.

The Bench of Justice N. Kirubakaran and Justice B. Pugalendhi has also issued the notices to actors Prakash Raj, Tammana Bhatia among others.

Also, last month, the Delhi High Court directed the Union Of India & Delhi Government to treat a petition filed against online gambling, as a representation and decide the grievances ventilated in the petition, as narrated in detail in the writ petition.

The Bench of Chief Justice D. N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan had directed the respondents (UOI & Delhi High Court) to decide the representation in accordance with law, rules, regulations and government policies applicable to the facts of the case, as early as possible and practicable.

Click here to download the order